RAMALLAH, September 18, 2018 (WAFA) – The Ramallah-based Addameer human rights organization said on Tuesday that excessive use of force by Israeli soldiers during the arrest of a Palestinian youth was the cause for his death.

Mohammad Zaghloul Rimawi, 24, died hours after he was detained by Israeli soldiers during an early morning raid at his home in Beit Rima, northwest of Ramallah.

Addameer said, quoting Bashir Rimawi, brother of the deceased, saying that an Israeli army force raided the village at around 4 in the morning on Tuesday. He said first masked soldiers forced their way into the Rimawi residence after breaking the door then they were followed by a larger army force. The soldiers assaulted Mohammad’s mother then forced all the family (the father, mother and three of their children) into a corner of the house while they took Mohammad to another room in the middle of the house where he was severely beaten with their guns and kicked until he fell unconscious. After that the soldiers dragged him and took him to an unknown location. Two hours later, the family was informed by the Palestinian District Office that its son has died.

Bashir said his brother was shot and injured in his foot two years ago during confrontations with Israeli soldiers in the village.

Addameer said the way the army has arrested Rimawi and its excessive use of force against him has led to his death. It said the deceased did not pose any threat to the soldiers to demand using excessive force against him, which is a violation of international humanitarian law that bans use of force against civilians who do not pose any real and direct threat. It said that use of lethal force in this manner is considered extrajudicial execution.

M.K.